Behind the front

My fallout with Black Eyed Peas front man and producer will.i.am dates back to the group's 2000 effort "Behind the Front" where it became blatantly obvious, through their appearances in Target ads and the like, that the Peas were itchin to go Pop. That being said, I don't have a problem against an artist or group striving for mainstream appeal, its just that when they do, it is often at the expense of their music's quality. It would be no different with the Peas as they would continue to put out rap tailor made for Walmart and as a result we all have will.i.am to thank for "Where is the Love?", "My Humps", and Fergieliscious...

But lately, will.i.am has been making some noise in the internet rap geek circles (guilty) by lending his production to the likes of Bustah Rhymes ("I Love My Bitch"), Too Short ("Keep Bouncin'"), and more recently The Game's "Compton", Nas' "Hip Hop is Dead", and Common's "I Have a Dream". It would seem impossible that the man behind "London Bridge" (don't front, it knocks) could team up with The Game for some bangin' gangsta boogie.

But really, this shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Sure BEP gets a lot of shit for making shamelessly sell out albums but peep the group's early work as Atbann Klan (they were then signed to gangsta rap icon Eazy E's Ruthless Records though their album Grass Roots was never released), their first major label album "Behind the Front", or even will's BBE instrumental album "Lost Change". The beats on these projects are vintage will.i.am: there's nothing really intricate going on but the tracks ooze an organic quality that isn't afraid to show its pop tendencies.

Maybe it just took rappers other than the Peas to rap over will's beats for people to take notice. But seriously, for all this hype over Jay Z coming out of retirement, The Game dropping "Doctor's Advocate", and The Clipse's "Hell Hath No Fury"... maybe will.i.am is the real story of this year in Hip Hop.

Your First Official Coachella 2007 Update

It's a doozy, too. Next year's festival will up the ante by becoming a THREE (3, III, 三)-day event, running from Friday, April 27th through Sunday, April 29th. The first artists to confirm are Rodrigo y Gabriela, LCD Soundsystem, Cornelius, Hot Chip, Oh No Oh My and Digitalism.

Depending on who you're asking, the bigger story concerns the weekend following Coachella. On May 5-6, the Empire Polo Grounds will host a country music festival, also promoted by Paul Follet and Goldenvoice. Some of the artists already lined up include Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, and Emmylou Harris.

Early details of both events can be found via Billboard. Jesus, I just hope those country people don't show up on the wrong weekend.

And let the jacking of hotel prices begin... now.

Plug for Jerome

Hey, everybody, do the following four things:

1. Click on the link.

2. Click on Media Categories (General).

3. Click on Music Website of the Year.

4. Vote for Prefixmag.com. Jerome moonlights between here and there, so show him some love.

While you're at it, feel free to vote in some of the lesser categories, like Album of the Year or whatever.

Shh, It's Still a Secret

In the past two weeks or so, three major hip-hop albums have been leaked onto this little thing we call the inter-web. The three albums in question are:

1. Jay-Z's "Kingdom Come," his first album out of "retirement." Jesus, even with a hiatus he's still dishing these things out faster than the Beastie Boys.
   
2. Snoop Dogg's "Tha Blue Carpet Treatment," a clever play on words relating both his celebrity status and his affiliation with a large, Los Angeles-based violence gang.
3. Eminem's "Get the Guns," which may or may not be his forthcoming official release.

Don't tell anybody, but the album's are still available on torrent sites. Just for fun, take a look at the covers.

Jay-Z's:

Snoopy's:

Although the Eminem album cover is still in limbo, I'd assume it would look something like this:
Just a guess.

I Swear, It's Just a Guilty Pleasure

As much as it embarrasses me, I have to admit that My Chemical Romance's The Black Parade is a pretty decent album. The only excuse I can offer is that the bitch-factor is overshadowed by the A Night at the Opera-ish concept and grandiosity. I'm still not cool with these guys wearing make-up though. Too much eyeshadow makes 'em look like whores.

My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade